The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: “I’m going to be putting up big numbers until I’m 40,” Shaquille O’Neal, 37, said. “I can play at any pace. It’s just that no one my age has done what I’ve done. Because of what went on last year (in Miami), they thought I was done. But I’m the type of player I don’t really harp on my injuries. I say it once, ‘I was injured,’ and that’s it. But people want to be the unauthorized author of my book. Last year, I was messed up. Then Nellie (Suns head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson) and them fixed me up. Now, I’m loose again and ready.” O’Neal continues to say he can deliver big games nightly if he gets enough shots. With the Suns’ increased pace, there are shots for everyone.
Nick Collison breaks finger
The Oklahoman reports: Playing with a broken left thumb the past two months, the Thunder’s Nick Collison suffered a chipped fracture in his middle finger on his right (shooting) hand Monday vs. San Antonio. He sustained the injury while blocking a shot and slapped the backboard. The injury occurred during the fourth quarter. Team officials said Collison will play Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls unless the pain is too severe.
Carl Landry OK after being shot in leg
The Houston Chronicle reports: Houston Rockets forward Carl Landry suffered a gunshot wound to his lower leg early this morning in a possible drive-by shooting or failed robbery near downtown, police said. Landry, 25, was released after treatment at Memorial Hermann Hospital. A team spokesman said he suffered a flesh wound and is expected to be out of the lineup for one to two weeks. The incident happened in the 3100 block of Leeland, a short distance southeast of downtown, about 4:20 a.m., Houston police said in a preliminary report.
InsideHoops.com says: The report continues to say that, according to police, a car bumped Landry, and when he got out to see if his own car was damaged, shots were fired from the other vehicle at him. It’s great that he’s OK. And it’s a shame that we have to live on the same planet as the type of people who go around harming other people like this.
Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum thread.
Billups dishes, Nuggets beat Nets 121-96
The AP reports: J.R. Smith and Nene scored 19 points each, Chauncey Billups had 14 points and 10 assists and Denver extended their winning streak to three with a 121-96 win over the Nets… Vince Carter scored 32 points for the Nets, who went 0-4 on the Western Conference portion of their five-game road trip. New Jersey plays at the New York Knicks on Wednesday… Nuggets F Kenyon Martin returned after missing two games and five of the last six with a strained lower back. He scored eight points in 15 minutes and didn’t play in the second half.
Aldridge scores 22, Blazers beat Grizzlies 103-92
The AP reports: LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and eight rebounds and Brandon Roy finished with 20 points and nine assists to lead the Portland to a 103-92 victory over the Grizzlies on Monday night… Travis Outlaw added 18 points and Joel Przybilla had 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who are trying to reach the Western Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003… O.J. Mayo scored 21 points and handed out six assists to lead Memphis, which lost its 13th game in the last 15. Mike Conley had 20 points, and Rudy Gay scored 17 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Hakim Warrick finished with 15 points on 7-of-10 from the floor.
Rockets defend well, beat Hornets 95-84
The AP reports: Ron Artest could not have started any worse or finished much better. Houston’s veteran leader scored all of his 18 points in the second half, and the Rockets overcame the absence of center Yao Ming in a 95-84 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday night… Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks each scored 14 points, and Scola had 12 rebounds to help the Rockets end New Orleans’ five-game home winning streak. Chris Paul had 29 points and 11 assists, while David West had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets, who’ve lost two straight… Carl Landry and Von Wafer each scored 12 points and Shane Battier 11 as the Rockets, holding on to the third seed in the Western Conference, prevented the Hornets from passing them in the standings.
Thunder spoil Popovich’s 1,000th, beat Spurs 78-76
The AP reports: Gregg Popovich didn’t coach 1,000 games in the NBA without having a few leads slip away on him. Courtesy of the Oklahoma City Thunder, he can add another to that list. Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Thabo Sefolosha added 12 and the Thunder spoiled Popovich’s 1,000th game as San Antonio’s coach by overcoming an early 17-point deficit to beat the Spurs 78-76 on Monday night… Tony Parker scored 28 points to lead San Antonio, and Tim Duncan had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Matt Bonner added 10 points.
Wallace scores 25, Bobcats beat Raptors 112-86
The AP reports: Gerald Wallace scored 25 points and the Bobcats began an important week for their postseason aspirations by beating the Raptors 112-86 on Monday to snap a three-game losing streak. D.J. Augustin added 15 points for the Bobcats, who moved within one game of idle Milwaukee and Chicago in the crowded and jumbled race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference… Chris Bosh had 18 points and 14 rebounds against the Bobcats, but the Raptors trailed by 14 at halftime and 19 in the third quarter before the reserves took over… Andrea Bargnani, who scored 27 points for the Raptors on Sunday, was just 2-for-7 from the field in the first half and finished with 13 points.
Sean Williams arrested after incident mall near Denver
The Newark Star-Ledger (Dave D’Alessandro) reports: Nets forward Sean Williams was arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief yesterday after an altercation with a clerk at a cell phone store in a shopping mall 20 miles south of Denver. The 22-year-old Williams was also charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, according to Detective Sergeant Ron Pinson of the Lone Tree, Colo., Police Dept. The incident occurred at 2 p.m. yesterday at the AT&T Mobility store inside the Park Meadows Mall. According to police, Williams had a verbal altercation with the clerk, and picked up a computer monitor and threw it. The monitor and other equipment were broken, causing damages estimated to be about $1,200 to $1,300.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Seriously, how hard is it to just stop getting in legal trouble for a while? Williams has pro-level athletic ability, but amateur-level skill development. Combine that with constant legal issues and he’s playing his way out of the league.
Share your opinions on the team in the InsideHoops New Jersey Nets message board.
Stephen Jackson suspended one game for technical fouls
The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Jackson has received a one-game suspension without pay after receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2008-09 season, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
A player or coach receives an automatic one-game suspension after receiving his 16th technical foul. Every other technical foul beyond 16 (18, 20, 22, etc.) will also result in a one-game suspension without pay.
Jackson received his most recent technical foul with 3:54 remaining in the third period of Golden State’s 154-130 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, March 15 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, Calif. Jackson will serve his suspension on Tuesday, March 17 when the Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers at ORACLE Arena.